The Ins and Outs of Officiating a Wedding Reverend Wendy Wortham Texas Twins Events

There are a number of different ways for me to conduct wedding consultations. When I receive phone calls about an upcoming event, I immediately inquire of the date and time of the event to check my availability.

I also explain that there are a number of ways to cater a ceremony to meet the needs of the bride and groom. This is because the ceremony is broken down into parts and, they are welcome to choose which parts they like, make the ceremony as short or long, religious or secular, funny or serious as they want and I encourage them to tailor the ceremony to suit their needs.

Based on the services requested, Officiating, Floral Designs, Photography etc. I quote a price. Often, couples want a rehearsal, this is encouraged if there is a possibility that the wedding party is unsure of where to stand, or where they will be positioned. Rehearsals are an additional fee, this is because I’m doing the ceremony twice, traveling to the destination twice and, finally to compensate me for the time involved with the wedding party.

When I meet with couples, I ask if they have a poem, handwritten vows, or something they’d like to do to encourage involvement with their children. Explaining each part of the ceremony and what they can expect, I secure a deposit.

Some Ministers do not require a deposit, but a deposit assures me that if the wedding is cancelled or if they’re not really serious, my time was not wasted.

I will talk to the couple at least once more prior to the wedding to go over the ceremony they’ve chosen to ensure that any last minute changes are addressed.

Another thing I do is talk to them on the phone and find out what kinds of ceremonies they are interested in prior to meeting with them. See if they want a candle lighting ceremony, ask if children are going to be involved, if the parents are going to stand up for them, who is walking down the aisle, etc.

With this information, I can select several parts and cater a ceremony for the couple to read at the consultation. Some couples, especially those without much time before the wedding, appreciate having more limited choices since there are already so many decisions to make before the wedding.

If I’m doing the bouquets, center pieces, boutonnières and corsages, I also request the bride to give me an idea of what she’s seeking such as tropical, elegant, country on the theme.

I personally find it easiest to let the couple make their own ceremony selections. I have often been asked if the couple wrote the ceremony themselves because it so accurately reflected who they were as a couple.

I go over positions of the groom and bride. Remember, the groom stands on my left and the bride on my right. The best man holds the brides ring and the maid of honor holds the grooms.

Wedding couples often like for me to have a photo with the happy couple. There need to be 2 witnesses, usually it’s the best man and maid of honor, but there is no rule.

In Tarrant County, the bride or groom can take the certificate to the county clerk and get it filed while they wait, or I mail it for them and it takes 1-3 weeks to be sent to the couple. Please remember to let me know if there will be an address change after the wedding to ensure the proper address is on your document.

I take my position as a wedding Officiant, Floral Designer, Funeral Pastor or any other event I’m involved with very important and ensuring my clients needs go above and beyond their expectations is and always will be my greatest achievement.